They are surrounded by juniper bushes, as well as a variety of desert flora...

...like beavertail cactus, sage, and Mormon tea.

Eventually, as I made my way back to my car, the view of the wildfire smoke plume became unavoidable...

...and seemed to grow...

...and get closer.

But in this quiet little desert garden off Lancaster Road, it still felt far away.

I felt far from everything.

And although I followed the tracks of other explorers before me, I was alone. It was silent.

Later that day, and the next, the Powerhouse Fire advanced down the mountain and into Lancaster, forcing evacuations and street closures - not only because of the flames, but because of poor air quality. The nearby Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve got clipped by the fire.